The NFL To Kick Off Season With Replacement Officials

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The National Football League will kick off the 2012 season with replacement officials.

NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson has informed the league’s 32 teams of the decision to start the season with replacement officials, beginning with the Dallas Cowboys at the New York Giants next Wednesday.

“We are not surprised based on Ray Anderson’s statements yesterday that the NFL was not going to reach out to us,” NFL Referees Association spokesperson Michael Arnold. “However, this is consistent with the NFL’s negotiating strategy which has been 'take it or leave it' and lock them out.”

The NFL locked the NFLRA in early June.

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